Emerging Curators Program

The 2007 return to country trip along the stock route triggered the beginning of the Project’s mentorship programs.  Travelling among the various groups of people were artist Murungkurr Terry Murray, a Walmajarri, Wangkajunga and Juwaliny man, whose homeland is Japingka in the northern reaches of the Great Sandy Desert region; Mirruwong arts worker Doolmarria Louise Mengil from the Kununurra area; and Martu woman Hayley Atkins. Their rapport with the older artists, their cultural knowledge and their eagerness to be involved in gathering stories and helping with painting became a vital part of the trip’s success.

During a series of meetings and trips these three aspiring curators were mentored by industry expert, author and former senior curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the National Gallery of Australia, Wally Caruana.

On Caruana’s mentorship, Louise Mengil commented:

He taught us to be able to see beyond the painting itself, listen to the artist and its story and then recognise the place and then put it into the painting … so not just seeing the painting but going beyond the painting itself… I liked it when he actually tested us – it showed that, you know, we were listening or, you know, if we needed more help in a different area, he would do that, and he’d work with us sometimes one-on-one. It was great.
Louise Mengil, 2009

Beyond the mentorship of Caruana, Terry, Louise and Hayley were guided through the final and critial stages of curating by co-curators John Carty, Carly Davenport and Monique La Fontatine to bring the collection and the Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route exhibition to fruition.